Chapter 56

Chapter 56

A scuffle had broken out, sending feathers flying and tails wagging. Leanne, without a word, stood up to distance herself from the fray, heading straight for the buffet area to grab some food.

The long table was laden with an assortment of cold dishes. Leanne picked a few items. and placed them on her plate when a man beside her asked, “Got a sweet tooth?”

It was the same guy who had pinched her hand earlier.

But without proof, there was no case. Leanne couldn’t accuse him of being a creep. She politely responded.

She continued her foray into the buffet, and Derek stood close by, not leaving.

“You look even more stunning than the last time we met.” Derek praised.

Leanne gave him a second glance, not recalling any previous

inter “Have we met?”

“It’s been a while. No surprise you don’t remember.” Derek smiled with the air of a gentleman. “It was that time you and Curtis went to Echo Summit to catch the meteor shower.”

Leanne remembered Echo Summit.

Back then, her relationship with Curtis was still solid. As the weather warmed up, Curtis mentioned a meteor shower in Virgo and that Echo Summit was the prime spot to watch. So, they went hiking and camping late into the night.

Indeed, someone had greeted Curtis that day, a fleeting introduction, so Leanne’s memory was hazy.

She couldn’t even recall the meteor shower, only the warm and intimate tangle in the spacious tent.

The plan was to watch the meteor shower, but she ended up under Curtis on the tent’s soft padding. Only when she heard distant exclamations of delight did she realize the meteors had already streaked across the night sky.

She nudged Curtis, “The meteor shower has started.”

Curtis kissed fine sweat on her neck, “You can make a wish with your eyes closed

right

e many wishes, so she made a simple one, “I hope we can come watch or shower together.”

hummed in agreement, “Then I wish, the next time there’s a meteor shower, I can uck you like this.”

Chapter Ne

He whispered these words into Leanne’s ear, the heat turning her ears scarlet, prompting her to slap him playfully, “Are you crazy?”

Her palm was soft. It barely made an impact, more like a caress.

Curtis chuckled and kissed her lips, “You’re so easily teased.”

In the end, she didn’t catch a glimpse of a single meteor that night. Since they went there to watch the meteor shower, they hadn’t brought condoms. But Curtis was overwhelmed. by the lust.

Leanne was anxious for days after returning, worried she might have accidentally conceived, until her monthly reassurance arrived on schedule..

Remembering those irksome scenes made her ears burn.

“What a coincidence!” She tried to sound nonchalant, picking up a piece of cheesecake.

Derek watched her blush spread to her ears, a flicker of something dark flashing in his eyes. His gaze then drifted lower, subtly scanning her form.

Leanne, her head bowed, didn’t notice, but Curtis, through the glass of the garden doors, caught every lingering look from Derek.

His pace on the phone quickened imperceptibly, his tone edged with impatience.

“They want ElitePinnacle’s connections while schmoozing the secretary’s nephew, not realizing they don’t have the clout. Tell Albert that I won’t be dominated. Either they give me the lead underwriter position and bump my share to my satisfaction, or the deal’s off.” With that, he hung up sharply and strode back.

Derek picked up a glass of wine and offered it to Leanne, “This fruit wine is quite good, sweet but not cloying. Give it a try.”

Leanne declined, “No, thank you.”

Derek didn’t retract the glass, his eyes fixed on her, “You only drink what Curtis gives you?” Leanne felt uneasy under his gaze, though she couldn’t pinpoint why. She shifted subtly to

the side.

“I have work early in the morning.”

“It’s just a glass of fruit wine. It won’t affect your work.” He persisted, pushing the glass closer, joking, “You’re not afraid I’ve spiked it, are you? Relax, Curtis is right there. I

wouldn’t dare

His

ed her discomfort.

sion not to drug her drink wasn’t because it was

illegal or morally

Chapter 56

wrong, but because of Curtis.

Feeling a chill up her spine, Leanne’s face creased into a frown.

At that moment, Curtis pushed open the glass garden door and stepped inside.

His confident stride carried an undeniable presence, difficult for anyone to ignore.

He brought with him a chill of early winter, heading straight to Leanne’s side. His broad hand found her waist effortlessly. With a gentle pull, he brought Leanne in front of him.

Curtis asked her, “A friend of yours?”